Welding electrode



Patented May 8, 1951 WELDING ELECTRQDE Edward J anowski, Pawtucket, R; L

Original application November 2, 1948, Serial No. 57,912. Divided andthis application February 23, 1950, Serial No. 145,696

Claims. (Cl. 21947) My invention relates to an electrode and moreparticularly relates to an electrode for applying a'rjadib' frequencyheat to simultaneously 'weld apldrality of strips of plastic materialtogether t make a plastic Venetian blind ladder tape, and is adivisionof my copending application Serial No. 57,912; 'filed' November2, 1948, for Ladder Tape for Venetian'Blinds and Method and AD- paratusfor its 'Manufacture.

' A'n'object of my invention is to provide a device particularly adaptedfor use in radio frequency dielectric welding which will function togive a strong bond without arcing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a "device for performingradio frequency dielectric welding having electrodes universally mountedthereon.

"'Anotherobject of my invention is to provide anoyel electrode suitablefor use in welding strips of plastic material together by means of highradio frequency heat.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious and will in part appearhereinafter.

"The' invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing thefeatures, properties and the relation of components which areexemplifled the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

'"For 'a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of theinvention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View partly in section of my improvedwelding electrodes and showing them in weldin position on an apparatusfor manufacturing plastic Venetian blind ladder tape;

Figure 2' is a side elevation looking outwardly towards the center of anelectrode;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of my improvedelectrode structure adapted to weld the staggered ends of a pair ofadjacent mass in a plastic Venetian blind ladder tape.

In Fig. 1 two of my electrodes 8 are disclosed in operating position onan apparatus for manufacturing plastic Venetian blind ladder tape,disclosed and claimed in my above mentioned ,copending applicationSerial No. 57,912. Broadly the tape manufacturing apparatus comprises aplurality of jigs l0, disclosed and claimed in my copending applicationSerial No. 145,697, filed February 23, 1950, for Jig, mounted on andcarried by conveyor chain 12. Each jig l0 carries two vertically spacedand horizontally staggered plastic ladder rung strips I4 and IBJ'As jigsit move downwardly they pass between two converging tapes of plasticmaterial 18' and 20 to cause the ends of rung strips l4 and [6, whichextend beyond the sides of jigs it, to be folded back along the sides ofsaid jigs. When each jig reaches a predetermined position betweenelectrodes 8 chain 82 stops and'said electrodes move towards each otherto contact tapes l8 and 2B oppcsite the folded back ends of rungs'M'a'n'd' [6. When electrodes 8 contact strips !8 and 20 a timingmechanism, which forms no part of the present invention, causes a highradio frequency electric current to be sent from the electrodes thrcughtapes l8 and 2%, the folded back ends of rungs l4 and it, and aconducting material forming'the holding portion of jigs [0, to heat saidtapes i 3 and 2t and the ends of rungs I4 and E5 to cause said rung endsto be Welded to said tapes. After a predetermined time the radiofrequency electric current is shut off, electrodes '8 are retracted,jigs Iii move forward another increment, and the cycle repeats.

Each of my electrodes 8 preferably comprise a metallic cylindricalmember 22, having a threaded shank projecting outwardly therefrom.iShankZfi isscrewe d in a threaded hole 2ft formed in one end of afrustro conical block 28 of high frequency insulating material. Whileany suitable type of high frequency insulating material'm'ay be employedfor block 28, I prefferably construct said block out'of glass bondediiiioai The; otherend of block 28 is threaded on rod 3i}. leeve 32 isslidably carried on rod t9 and is adapted to be attached to the frame ofa Venetian blind ladder tape manufacturing apparatus to reciprocallymount said electrode th s a' In the preferred embodiment shown I providea structure which will weld the opposite two ends of a pair ofstaggeredrungs land It to the tapes t8 and 253 durin each stop "of the apparatusfeeding mechanism. For this purpese'l provide each electrode with ametal plate 35 ofgenerallyjrectangular shape, having a central electrodereceiving hole'36 of slightly greater diameter than cylindrical member,22. Plate 34 is pivotallymounted on cylindrical member 22 b'yineansbftransverse pivotpin' 38 which ektends through aligned holes in plate 34and said cylindrical member 22. Plate 34 is also provided with holes 4E]adjacent each end thereof and parallel to hole 36. The inner ends ofholes 40 -11 o are countersunk as at 42. Heat applying buttons :34having inner heads 46, which preferably have an embossed inner surface58 adapted to contact tapes l8 and 29, are mounted in holes foruniversal movement on plate 34 by means of their shanks 50 which passthrough said holes d9. Buttons is are held on plate 39 by cotter pins 52which extend through suitable holes 55 in the outer ends of shanks 59and semispherical portions 55 between said heads 46 and said shanks 50.The semispherical portions 56 abut the countersunk hole ends 62 touniversally mount each button it on electrode 8.

In the embodiment shown wires 58 which carry the high radio frequencyelectricity are attached to each respective electrode by a suitableconnector 59. In the embodiment shown the connector 69 comprises a flatplate having a hole therein surrounding shank 22 of cylindrical member22 and abutting the end of its respective cylindrical member 22. Wires58 may be connected to connector 50 in any suitable manner.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrode having a conducting inner end, an intremediateinsulating portion, means attached to said insulating portion andadapted to reciprocally mount said electrode on a frame, a conductingplate, said plate having an opening therein of a size sufiicient toreceive said conducting inner end, means for retaining said conductinginner end in said opening for limited pivoted movement relative thereto,said plate also having a plurality of holes therein having their axessubstantially parallel to the axis of said opening, a plurality of heatapplying buttons, one for each hole, and means adapted to mount a buttonin each hole for universal movement relative to said plate.

2. An electrode having an intermediate insulating portion, meansattached to the outer end of said insulating portion and adapted toreciprocally mount it on a frame, a conducting inner member carried bythe inner end of said insulating portion, a conducting plate, said platehaving an opening therein of a size suflicient to receive saidconducting inner member, means for retaining said conducting inner endin said opening for limited pivotal movement relative thereto, saidplate also having a plurality of holes therein having their axessubstantially parallel to the axis of said opening, a plurality of heatapplying buttons, each button having a head and a shank, and meansadapted to mount the shank of a button in each hole for universalmovement relative to said plate.

3. An electrode having an intermediate insulating portion, meansattached to the outer end of said insulating portion and adapted toreciprocally mount it on a frame, a conducting inner member carried bythe inner end of said insulating portion, a conducting plate, said platehaving an opening therein of a size sufficient to receive saidconducting inner member, means for retaining said conducting inner endin said opening for limited pivotal movement relative thereto, saidplate also having a plurality of holes therein having their axessubstantially parallel to the axis of said opening and having theirinner ends countersunk, a plurality of heat applying buttons, eachbutton having a head and a shank, and means adapted to mount the shankof a button in each hole for universal movement relative to said plate.

4. An electrode having an intermediate insulating portion, meansattached to the outer end of said insulating portion and adapted toreciprocally mount it on a frame, a conducting inner member carried bythe inner end of said insulating portion, a conducting plate, said platehaving an opening therein or a size suflicient to receive saidconducting inner member, means for retaining said conducting inner endin said opening for limited pivotal movement relative thereto, saidplate also having a plurality of holes therein having their axessubstantially parallel to the axis of said opening and having theirinner ends countersunk, a plurality of heat applye ing buttons, eachbutton having a head and a shank and semispherical portions between saidheads and said shanks, and means adapted to universally mount the shankof a button in each hole whereby said semispherical portion abuts thecountersunk portion of the hole.

5. An electrode having an intermediate frustro conical insulatingportion, means attached to the larger end of said frustro conicalinsulating portion and adapted to reciprocally mount it on a frame, aconducting inner member carried by the smaller end of said insulatingmember, a conducting plate, said plate having an opening generallycentrally thereof and of a size to loosely receive said conducting innermember, means for retaining said conducting inner end in said openingfor limited pivotal movement relative thereto, said plate also having aplurality of holes therein having their axes substantially parallel tothe axis of said opening and having their inner ends countersunk, aplurality of heat applying buttons, each button having a head and ashank and semispherical portions between said heads and said shanks,said shanks being of smaller diameter than said holes, and means adaptedto universally mount the shank of a button in each hole whereby saidsemispherical portion abuts the countersunk portion of the hole.

EDWARD JANOWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,899,233 Derby Feb. 28, 19332,422,525 Brown et al. June 17, 1947 2,434,330 Merz et al Jan. 13, 19482,436,732 Rowe Feb. 24, 1948 2,442,451 Albin June 1, 1948 2,472,820Graham et a1 June 14, 1949 2,506,626 Zottu May 9, 1950 2,519,193MacDermaid l Aug. 15, 1950

